Contact chemical applicator device and method

Abstract

This invention provides a contact chemical applicator for distributing liquid chemicals to foliage. Each applicator is comprised of a substantially elongated and downwardly disposed body with a ground contact means at a lower end of the body which makes contact with the ground as the applicator is moved in a direction of travel. The applicator has a pair of applicator arms that extend substantially outward at opposed angles transverse to the body and the direction of travel and are positioned in a line or in a V-shaped configuration. In use, each arm contacts the foliage and/or the ground and thereby supplies the liquid chemical. A preferred embodiment utilizes a plurality of applicators arranged in rows to form a distributed device such that foliage contacted by an arm of an applicator in a forward row becomes deflected sideways in an opposite direction to that in which it is deflected by an arm of an applicator in a rearward

I claim: 
     
       1. A contact chemical applicator for distributing a liquid chemical to at least one foliage and a substrate surface, said contact chemical applicator comprising: a substantially elongate and downwardly disposed body portion;   ground contact means at a lower end of said body portion to contact said substrate surface as said applicator is moved in a direction of travel; and   a pair of applicator arms operatively connected to the body portion and existing above the ground contact means, said arms extending substantially outwardly at opposed angles and transverse to both said body portion and said direction of travel, each said arm contacting and thereby supplying said liquid chemical to at least one of said foliage and said substrate surface.   
     
     
       2. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms extend substantially outward at an angle no greater than 180 degrees. 
     
     
       3. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ground contact means comprises at least one skid. 
     
     
       4. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said body portion is connected to a frame. 
     
     
       5. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein a flexible connecting piece is provided along said body portion, intermediate said frame and said ground contact means. 
     
     
       6. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said applicator arm is connected to said body portion via a flexible connection. 
     
     
       7. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said arm is variable in angular disposition relative to at least one of the direction of travel and said substrate surface. 
     
     
       8. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 7, wherein a secondary ground contact means is provided at the end of each said arm to provide additional support to said applicator. 
     
     
       9. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 8, wherein said liquid chemical is supplied to each said arm via supply means internal to said body portion. 
     
     
       10. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rate of supply of said liquid chemical is controlled by a moisture sensing means provided on at least one arm. 
     
     
       11. A chemical distributor comprising a plurality of contact chemical applicators as claimed in claim 10, said applicators being provided in a single row substantially normal to the direction of travel. 
     
     
       12. A chemical distributor comprising a plurality of contact chemical applicators as claimed in claim 10, said applicators being provided in a plurality of rows substantially normal to the direction of travel, applicators in alternate rows being positioned substantially intermediate the applicators in adjacent rows relative to the direction of travel, such that in use, foliage contacted by one of said arms of one of said applicators in a first row is deflected in a substantially opposite sideways direction to that in which said foliage is deflected by one of said arms of one of said applicators in a second row. 
     
     
       13. A chemical distributor, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the applicators in said alternate rows are positioned at different heights from said substrate surface than the applicators in adjacent rows, such that in use, foliage contacted by one of said arms of one of said applicators in a first row is deflected in a vertical direction relative to that in which it is deflected by one of said arms of one of said applicators in a second row. 
     
     
       14. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ground contact means is at least one wheel. 
     
     
       15. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ground contact means is at least one skid. 
     
     
       16. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body portion is connected to a frame. 
     
     
       17. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said applicator arm is connected to said body portion via a flexible connection. 
     
     
       18. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said arm is variable in angular disposition relative to at least one of the direction of travel and said substrate surface. 
     
     
       19. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a secondary ground contact means is provided at the end of each said arm to provide additional support to said applicator. 
     
     
       20. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid chemical is supplied to each said arm via supply means internal to said body portion. 
     
     
       21. A chemical distributor comprising a plurality of contact chemical applicators as claimed in claim 1, said plurality of applicators being provided in a single row substantially normal to the direction of travel. 
     
     
       22. A chemical distributor comprising a plurality of contact chemical applicators as claimed in claim 1, said plurality of applicators being provided in a plurality of rows substantially normal to the direction of travel, wherein said applicators in alternate rows are positioned substantially intermediate the applicators in adjacent rows relative to the direction of travel, such that in use, foliage contacted by one of said arms of one of said applicators in a first row is deflected in a substantially opposite sideways directions to that in which said foliage is deflected by one of said arms of one of said applicators in a second row. 
     
     
       23. A contact chemical applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ground contact means is at least one wheel.